Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Micah, my little happy baby, you can finally sit up on your
own, enough that I can walk away without worry and enough that your brother
won’t knock you over easily when he races past you. You say “Bye Bye!” (sounds like "dye dye") and wave
your arm and think it’s funny to do so.

Your favorite person is still Asher. It almost hurts my
heart to see how much you adore him, only because most times the feeling is not
reciprocated because you are after his toys. However, you are not afraid to
yell at Asher if he takes away a toy you are playing with. You get so mad and
yell and I think it’s hilarious. It stops your big brother in his tracks and he
usually returns the item, if not he will find you a “baby toy” to replace it
with.

Speaking of baby toys, you don’t care much for them. You see
your brother’s big boy toys and think they look lovely! For now, it’s easier to
keep them away because you have stopped rolling where you want to go and just
kind of stretch toward the object. You are getting your knees under you
sometimes, but no movement yet.

Bath time has become a riot. Much of the time bath time is
now shared. If Asher sees you in the tub he races to join and you splash like
there is no tomorrow. I mean, there is water EVERYWHERE when you are finished.
You don’t mind water in your eyes and you and Asher go to town in the bathtub.
You don’t mind if he splashed your face even though we don’t like it much and
try to keep the intensity under control. You don’t help much in that arena
though.

Bed time for you is 7:30 and you will sleep until 6:30-7:30,
with many breaks at night. That’s something we are going to have to remedy
soon… You still will nap twice per day but you aren’t on much of a schedule for
the first one.

I love your kisses, giggles, and hugs. You are
such a blessing to our family. I know I have said this over and over again, but
I have learned in this world that there are never to many opportunities to say
“I love you”.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

2012 has been a crazy year for me and my family. Things have been so full-speed that I felt completely out of control at times and overwhelmed.

We have had so many ER visits, sicknessess, and doctor visits that for the first time in my life I am now the proud owner of medical bills. We have had stitches, broken bones, allergic reactions, and lots and lots of albuterol.

I have missed all but one of my parents, siblings and friends birthdays. Even my husband has yet to actually receive his gift, and while I actually managed to get him a card, he opened it a month after the fact.

I was hospitalized for postpartum depression over the Labor Day weekend spending 4 days away from my children. If that wasn't bad enough, I caused us to miss the last vacation to Torch Lake with my in-laws before my father-in-law passed.

My last remaining grandparent, my grandmother, passed as well as my very young father-in-law.

This year has definitely been the hardest of my life. This past week has been the most difficult.

I am not listing my woes fishing for sympathies, a pat-on-the-back, or encouragement. I want to look back on these times and remember.

Jesus has been good to me this year.

As is often the case, difficulties in life are the ways God brings us all the more closer to Him. I have never felt more alive in Christ, more able to hear His voice, more clearly seen His awesome hand than now. I have been drawn so tightly into the arms of Jesus that sometimes I feel like my heart is going to burst from that embrace. I have prayed for and heard the answer for God to change my heart, change my thought pattern, let HIM be seen through me.

Our God is an awesome God. Did you know that? My eyes have been opened.

I have been reading the daily thankful posts on Facebook for the month of November and I have been compiling a mental list of my own. I was excited to be able to share them when a meeting I had scheduled included a chance to share my top ten for the year. I ended up having to miss that meeting (not the first I've missed this year!). I thought instead I would jot them down here.

1. I am thankful for those medical bills - they tell me that my husband has a job and that I do indeed have health insurance when so many others have none at all.

2. I am thankful for postpartum depression - it has allowed me to relate to so many other women dealing with the same issues. It has allowed me to be open with my situation which has begun dialogue that many are afraid to talk about. It has answered the question of if we should have more children and lifted a heavy weight off of my shoulders.

3. I am thankful for a weekend in the psych ward -I started relationships with others that I would not have outside of the hospital. I learned that people I would have judged before are in no way different than myself.

4. I am thankful for sickness - it has caused me not to take for granted each and every healthy day we have had.

5. I am thankful for cancer - it has opened my husband's eyes to the enormous importance of early detection. And yes, a prostate exam is actually pretty easy. Tell the men in your life to get them!

6. I am thankful for death - it has healed strained relationships, brought family closer together, and opened up avenues to say "I love you" to people it was difficult to say it to before.

7. I am thankful for only 1 income - it has taught me how to be a good steward of what God has so graciously given us. Having to stick to a strict budget has made us so much more responsible than before. It has also allowed me to realize that we are not of this world and made me look closely at what our culture tells us is important, and what actually IS important.

8. I am thankful for hardships - it has allowed me to accept and even ASK for help. Letting God use others to answer my prayers and let it bless them in the process.

9. I am thankful for marital trials - our trials have made it possible to help others in the encountering the same issues. At the time they seemed insurmountable, but we have been amazed to see God using them now.

10. I am thankful for the most difficult year of my life - God has placed people in my life that he knew I needed now. He has spoken though these people, offered comfort, wisdom, and friendships. He has opened avenues for me to encourage others in their walk with Christ. It has humbled me, brought me to my knees to beg God to change my heart and thought process (and He is working daily in those areas!), and allowed me to be totally dependent on the strength of Jesus. It has taught me the power of prayer on my own, with my children, and with my husband. It has made me a better wife, mother, daughter, and friend.

There is still a month left of this turbulent year, and God only knows what the future years holds. Yet my heart has never been more filled with joy.

Monday, November 19, 2012

I have never had six months of my life fly by so quickly. So quickly in fact that I did not record your fifth month.

You are still our happy little boy. Happy and BIG! At your six month checkup you were 29 inches tall (99%) and 19 pounds 2 ounces (86%) you are outgrowing some of your 12 month clothes and moving on to 18 month clothes. Like I said, big!

Micah an his friend Adelaide

You still nurse primarily and aren't much of a fan of any solid food besides bananas. I tried avocado, nectarines, apples, and even a cheerio. Nana finally gave you some rice cereal last weekend and THAT is what you were apparently holding out for. You are a huge fan. So now you eat bananas AND rice cereal. A varied diet indeed! I'm holding out hope that you will still come around to the avocados...

You have been sick a lot again, but it's the wheezing we are having trouble with. Even in between colds the last 7 weeks we can't rid you of the wheezing. We started steroids this last week, but they still aren't doing much. Hopefully some warm air over the weekend will do the trick.

You also have 4 teeth coming in this week. All 4 on top bring you to 6 teeth all together. You still aren't drooling but you won't let us touch your gums today. Teething tablets seem to be your friend! That and cold, wet washcloths. You LOVE them. So happy that something helps. You finally slept better last night too, so they must be feeling a bit better.

You are sitting up pretty well, but I can't leave you by yourself, you are having the most trouble falling over to the side. You roll where you want to go and your favorite toys are whatever your brother is playing with at the time. You seem to know that we are trying to pacify you with a baby toy and are never too happy about that.

You love Billy the dog, but you really are a momma's boy and you adore Asher. When daddy comes in the door after work you grin and grin at him. You usually have a smile for everyone and we hear how much you look like your daddy all the time. You are such a joy to us and to others. We love you!

Monday, September 17, 2012

Micah, my dear, next week you will be 5 months already! So let's catch up on month 4.

You popped your two bottom teeth through the week before you turned 4 months with as little drooling as I think was possible. I thought I was seeing some swelling but I just didn't believe it without seeing drool! You proved me wrong. You were deceptively pleasant about it too, until they actually broke through. Still, you were our (mostly) happy little Micah.

You smile at everyone, especially your brother, but not much laughter yet. Daddy or Asher are the best at getting giggles. You are still laid back, happy, and a go-along-with-everything kind of baby.

You can roll back to front and I've only seen front to back a couple of times, once I think your brother helped you over so I'm not sold on that milestone yet. You get mad on your belly so I don't push too much "tummy time", you can send me those counseling bills later... :)

You have found your feet and the dog, Billy, but you aren't too sure what to make of the latter. Your favorite person is Asher which makes my heart just melt. You never cry when you wake up. Morning, noon, or night you just talk and coo. You smile at anyone who walks in the door to come take you out of your crib.

You have THE softest cheeks that I just love to touch and kiss. Your daddy says the same thing. You are looooong and still wearing 12-18 month clothing. The clothes that were handed down to you from Asher, he was wearing when he was walking. Your hair is growing in and looks like I took you to get a buzz cut. In the sun I still see red. Your eyes look blue one day, hazel, green, or even brown the next. Mine change from day to day so we wonder if that's what yours will do too.

After getting mad at me at dinner we tried some mashed up banana with you. You loved it and I couldn't get it to you fast enough. We have tried avocado, nectarines, and apples without success. I can't give you too much else until 6 months, so for now banana it is.

The banana did NOT help you sleep any better, but we can't have everything now can we?

Micah, I am so thankful you are such a happy, laid-back boy and hope that I am giving you everything you need since sometimes I think it's hard to tell by your temperament. I am so thankful that you are here to be a brother to Asher and that he is here to be a brother to you. You were hand-picked by God for this family and we can't imagine it without you, or those so soft cheeks. We love watching you grow and are trying to keep our eyes wide open because it is all happening so fast.

And lastly, it has been decided, both by us, and in a way for us, that we won't be having that third child we had talked about. I hope you are happy to be a "youngest" child and never a "middle". We don't think you will mind too much! We love you.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

A few things I've learned by the ripe old age (kidding) of 30. I know I will laugh at these when I read them at 40.

1. Forgiving others is very freeing.

2. Always check if you let the dog back inside before you go to bed.

3. The first year of marriage can be very difficult, but it gets better each and every year after.

4. A joyful heart does much more for the appearance than any make up or hair cut.

5. Think before you make up words thinking you're cool, like adding "ness" to the end of words. For example "I'm feeling the awesomeness". Then when you tell your dad you have to pee, you won't end up telling him that you are "feeling the peeness" (just say it out loud).

6. Having children is hard. Very hard. But very worth it.

7. I can learn to do without a lot of things, cable TV, those expensive shoes.....sleep.

8. Always make sure that stranger really is who you think he is before you go over to them acting uber excited.

9. Every thing I've done in my life, the good, the bad, the ugly has brought me here and God is using it all for good.

10. ALL people fall short of the glory of God. Daily.

11. Never do something thinking you won't see the people witnessing it ever again. You might turn around at a concert one night and be completely mortified.

12. If something is truly important, I/you/he/she/they will make time for it.

13. A healthy diet DOES taste better than an unhealthy one. I promise!

14. My parents did the BEST they could.
15. As I parent I am doing the best I can. That's all I can do.

16. Age is only a number. Until you hit 65. Then important things can happen, like retirement!

17. Comparing myself to others in appearance, education, financial status, parenting is very dangerous. There are always two sides to every story and you are probably only seeing the good side.

18. Positive thinking is very effective and usually contagious.

19. People need love. It's not up to me to decide who and why, all people need to be loved.

20. When your MIL suggests you stop eating so many cherries in the days
leading up to long bike ride around an island with minimal bathrooms,
you should listen to her.

21. My past mistakes do not define me now, whether you can't let go of those mistakes or not.

22. If you have children, you too will one day become an "In-Law", so be nice!

23. Living with a significant other will not help someone to decide if that person is the one to marry or not. If the fact that the other person leaves their socks on the floor, can't cook, poops with the door open, or doesn't clean the kitchen to your standards is a deal breaker then that is not the person to marry.

24. If you are on your way to church and the person in front of you isn't going fast enough, the solution is not to tailgate them. The odd are much higher early SUnday morning that they are going to the same church.

25. A home cooked meal, loved ones, and a clean house are very therapeutic.

26. God is in all things, all circumstances, all places. For that I am very thankful.

Friday, August 3, 2012

Not only is time moving faster than I can keep up with, but my "little" Micah is GROWING faster than I can keep up with. My back (honestly, the back of whoever is holding him) is hurting and I have to go clothes shopping again this weekend as he is growing out of his 12 month clothes.

You read that right. No, I am not giving him protein shakes.

Micah is a sweet boy. He seems to be a bit more reserved and definitely has a preference for momma. He also has a preference for facing outward and not the typical over the shoulder hold which takes two hands and does not leave a hand open for any other tasks. He also has a preference for his hand. As in his hand in his mouth. I have given up the pacifier completely. I was trying to avoid a thumb-sucker as it is easier to get rid of a pacifier, but it doesn't look like that will happen. I'm OK with that, I think that means I don't have to go in to pop in a pacifier in the middle of the night.

Speaking of night time, my little Micah is in his crib. We made the switch a couple of weeks ago, not because I was at ALL ready for him to go, but because he has outgrown his bassinet and was waking himself up. Sure enough, he immediately went to waking only once a night.

He likes it when I sing to him. I am tickled that he likes it.

He is our happy little boy. Asher is in love with him, and so are we. My heart sometimes cannot handle when he he nursing and pauses to grin up at me. Or when Asher gets so excited to go in and tell him good morning. Or when he makes daddy work so hard for a grin when he comes home from work. Or when he just talks and talks and talks to me in that little "coo".

Being a mom to two is even more fun. It's as if he has always been here, was always destined to be.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

There are phases in everyone's life where it just seems like you can barely hold on without falling off the ride. This is a time like that for us. While my FIL was diagnosed two years ago with stage 4 prostate cancer, and my grandma fell at the beginning of February, it has all seemed a bit overwhelming the past 3 weeks.
If we are being honest, it could ALWAYS be much worse, but the first 7 months of 2012 has been, well, crazy.
For now, I have to let things go. My house is a mess, which really messes with my sanity, but I can only do so much. Mu husband is being neglected, but I guess I am too. We are holding strong and trying to spend time together when we can. Information does not get passed on as quickly, and it may be a few days before I get to tell him something, but it gets to him eventually.
My support system with the boys has taken quite a hit. First I was unable to work because I lost my childcare (my wonderful MIL, then my wonderful mom) then I lost any backup as both my mom's were in and out of hospitals, doctor appointments, and just plain exhausted. In the meantime I have learned how to take care of myself in other ways like escaping for a few hours Saturday mornings and in the last month getting out to jog.
We only got half of Brad's "stay cation" this month, but he was able to sit for over 15 hours with his mom as his dad went through emergency surgery. After we got through that as a family, my grandma went down hill.
We've made a lot of trips to the "city" and have spent a lot of time in a couple different hospitals. I have also learned where I can pump in these places....
My mom and I have talked a lot about all of this being temporary and I have been reminded that this life itself is just temporary. This is not my permanent home.
So we press on, making the best of each day. Enjoying the time with extended family even though we don't like why they had to come home and enjoying time with each other when we have a minute, even if in a surgery waiting room.
In a week, a month, a year we will be in a new phase of life. I am hopeful that it may feel a bit slower and possibly involve a bit more sleep. If not, it's only temporary. :)

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

I was inspired to write about a typical day in the Beer houselhold after reading a few in the blogging world. Of course I can't find them now to link to them.

I chose a Monday since they all seem to look the same. I normally don't plan any playdates or anything since I just catch up from the weekend.

330- I awake to a stirring, cooing baby. This can't be right, I just fed him at 130... I lift him out of the bassinet to nurse, and he doesn't eat well, not a good sign. I lay him down to get to the bathroom and I come back only to be greeted by a now SMILING and cooing baby. Not. Good. Luckily the hubs gets up and takes him downstairs so I can sleep longer.

400- Hubs comes back in because he can't find the pacifier.

415- Hubs comes in to get a new outfit for baby since he just spit up.

430- Hubs comes in for something. I didn't find out for what. I look at my phone for the time. Ugh.

600- I awake to the simultaneous sounds of my phone alarm vibrating and the sound of an awake baby being brought up the stairs. I tell the Hubs to take him back down I will nurse him downstairs, hubs knocks the door on a toy when opening it. I inform him that he will have to try to get the toddler back to sleep.

615- Yep, I hear the toddler's door open.

630- Hubs tries to rock him, then graciously brings me a cup of coffee with lots of milk.

645- I hear toddler's door open again. I allow him out 15 minutes early.

655-I hear crying and lots of toddler "no's" and the hubs informs me he is in a really bad mood. The hubs is now afraid to leave me for work.

705 - Toddler officially in tantrum mode and put in his room. 3 times. I am happy if he just does the screaming on the second floor. I make conversation with the still smiling, cooing infant.

755- Clean up kitchen. Try to play cars with toddler since baby fell asleep.

805- Diaper change since I thought I smelled poop.

810 - Another diaper change. Actual poop.

815- Toddler requests to eat again. I take the opportunity to throw kale in the dehydrator.

825 - Finally, playing with cars.

830- We pet the dog instead which I realize is shedding all over the carpet I just vaccumed so we take him outside to brush him. Toddler thinks that dog trying to escape into the hostas is hilarious. Also facinated by the "flying billy hair".

835- Cars again.

836 - Somehow, toddler realizes in the midst of his 50 Matchbox cars that the tow truck is missing.

837- I find the tow truck under our bed. Weird.

900- Nurse happy baby.

930- Bathe happy baby.

945 - Dress the other members of our family and listen to music WHILE playing with cars upstairs.

1000 - I announce we shall take a walk!

1010 - We are finally downstairs with shoes on. I peek at the thermometer. 82. Too late to back out now...

1019 - Goldfish, water, cell phone, keys, double stroller, teddy bear, dog, 2 children, one mom out the door. I look down at baby trying to eat his own arm. I forgot the pacifier. Sprint inside to grab pacifier praying toddler doesn't move the stroller. I think this constitutes a safety violation.

1020 - Actually walking.

1040-Back home. I release dog and toddler into backyard only to remember 60 seconds later that the hubs set the toddler pool up over the weekend. I set the baby and other things occupying my hands inside while watching toddler through the back window. I go to retrieve toddler only to find that I was too late, he is soaked from the waste down. I think this also constitutes a safety violation.

1045 - Grandma here so I can get my haircut. I remember I had told her I would have lunch ready. Hastily put together a toddler lunch. Remember I need to eat too. Shovel a few graham crackers with peanut butter in my mouth and throw pretzels and kale chips in a baggy. Fill my water bottle to wash kale chips out of my teeth.

1108 - Drop stuff at a friends house. Stuff I should have dropped off 2 months ago. Both of us apologize profusly for our sweaty non-showered selves.

1120 - Late to hair appointment. Realize I know the other lady getting her hair cut. Lovely 40 minutes of laughing talking about kids, movies (there is a movie about strippers??), tattoos, and turning 30.

100- Check email, facebook, blog in that order. Return some emails, work on blogs with a snack of goldfish and milk. Make mental note that we NEED groceries. Look up Shepard's Pie recipe for dinner. Throw around the idea of just thawing some venison chili. Think briefly of taking a nap.

220- Decide that I am tired of looking at a computer screen and round up the ingredients for the Shepards pie. Of course I didn't pull the meat out of the deep freeze so in the microwave it goes. I know that I will not get dinner completely finished as I waited too long to start but plow ahead anyways.

300- The dog flies downstairs which means the toddler is close behind. He greets me grinning on the landing. I clap my hands and tell him I am SO glad to see him which makes his grin even bigger. I hear the baby stir. I have two hot pans going, I knew I waited too long.

310 - Hurridly get meat simmering and realize I have 10 minutes left on the potatoes. Nurse baby on one side.

320 - Quick! Turn off the burners, switch the laundry, grab a snack for the toddler, toddler asks to watch a movie, finish feeding baby before he realizes what I'm doing. Sit baby in kitchen while I finish up dinner.

400 - Dinner ready to go in oven. TV off. Give toddler an activity choice and he chooses cloring. With markers. What happened to crayons? Trace lots of toddler hands on pieces of paper. Ask nicely several times for toddler to keep marker on paper ONLY. Draw a picture for daddy.

420- Make race track out of poker chips.

445 - Set table and throw dinner in the oven. Baby falls back asleep.

525 - Daddy is home! I let him say hi, send him to change his clothes and a toddler diaper. Baby has been eating between 6 and 630. Because I got dinner on the table before said time baby wakes early trying to devour his fist. Daddy and toddler eat at table, I feed baby again.

600-Everybody full. Found out on Facebook today that a friend taught their toddler how to do a sumersault. Sumersault lesson commences. We can tell that's not going to happen anytime soon so we head to the store so I have something to eat besides goldfish.

720 - Back from store with baby that is STILL trying to eaet his entire arm. Daddy starts bath for toddler while I get PJ's on baby and feed him. Again. This is how I ended up with a ginormous baby. I listen to toddler and daddy argue about throwing water out of the bathtub. Daddy wins the argument.

800 - More books then rocking. I am trying to get baby to sleep in another room. Set baby down because I have a large baby and my back hurts. Contemplate my deltoids and blank on what exercise I need to do to strengthen the front head of the delts. Start raising my arms forward whle feeling the muscle only to see the hubs has caught me in this weird act from the other room. I go back to trying to get the baby to sleep.

830 - Hubs sends me to take a shower. I didn't take one yesterday. I think he could tell.

840 - I get out of the shower to see the door opening slowly. I see the shadow of a toddler on the wall. I tell toddler to get back to bed.

842 - I open the bathroom door to see the same toddler on the floor outside the door. I think about the fact that I now have to enter this information into this blog post. Great.

845 - After a great big hug and kiss, another hug, and then finally using toddler's full name, he stays in bed.

850 - I cut up watermelon we bought at store over my just mopped floor. Of course I drop a piece out of the first slice.

910 - Hubs in the shower, I check email and work on this blog. I have until the shower stops to get upstairs if I have any chance of coercing a foot rub.

1000 - I lay down exhausted, thanking God for every moment of this really great day.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Welcome to the July 2012 Carnival of Natural Parenting: Family CreationsThis post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama. This month our participants have shared crafts, recipes, and philosophies of creativity. Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.
***
As the mom of two little boys, I own a lot of cars. Big cars, little cars, cars that go on tracks, cars that make noise, cars with remotes. My oldest loves them. And as a mom who tries to parent intentionally, I like to get on the floor at least once a day to just play. This play time more often than not (OK, always) revolves around those cars.

I'm embarrassed to say, I'm getting a little burnt out on cars.

Naturally, since I am tired of playing with them I want to think that he is too. So we made a trip to our local craft store armed with some Pinterest ideas. Side note: that never makes for a cheap trip!

This week I brought out the poster paint and a fresh sheet of poster board. I thought we could make a picture that we could hang proudly in his room (since I have yet to find a suitable piece of artwork for the big boy room).

As it turns out, 25 months is a bit too young to use these paints. Or at least with my little man it is. Squeezing the bottle, which seemed to produce MUCH joy for him, let an excess amount of paint out. Trying to explain that little tidbit to a 2 year-old didn't go over well.

I enjoyed watching him mix the colors until I realized that by mixing the colors we were taking away the possiblilty of future use. See the black paint on all of the bottles?

At one point the red bottle was thrown to the floor with a squeal of glee.

As I told my MIL of our painting fiasco she reminded me of the important part: he enjoyed it.

Which reminded me who I should be intentional about spending time with. This time isn't for me, it's for him.

So here the picture sits, in our living room which he chose. You can imagine us sitting there today, playing with cars. :)

***Visit Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama to find out how you can participate in the next Carnival of Natural Parenting!
Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:

Garden Soup — Bailey finds a way to help momma Katy (from Muse of a Daffodil) in the garden.

Turtle Mosaics — Lyndsay at ourfeminist{play}school and her little family spend a quiet hour making a turtle mosaic inspired by the work of Melanie Mikecz.

Edible Art Plus 8 Art Supply Recipes — Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama shares some natural, chemical-free art supply alternatives, which are gauranteed to be tons of fun for children of all ages. They taste great too!

Cooking... Kind Of — ANonyMous at Radical Ramblings makes pizza with her daughter, hoping to inspire a love of cooking and encourage a bigger interest in food. As well as making mess and having lots of fun, of course!

Crockpot Refried Beans — That Mama Gretchen's family loves to experiment with new recipes, and today she's sharing a kitchen success!

Creating Memories — Andrea at Tales of Goodness reflects on how the best creations can emerge from just letting kids be kids.

Making Fruit Leather Together — When Amy Willa at Me, Mothering, and Making it All Work took some time to involve her children in the process of finally trying a fruit leather recipe stored on her Pinterest food board, she got more than just a scrumptious homemade snack as a result!

Making Glasses from Children's Art — Mandy at Living Peacefuly with Children used her children's artwork to make some very special glasses for her husband for Father's Day.

Preparing Family Meals Together — Deb Chitwood at Living Montessori Now shares how she started the tradition of creating meals together with her children, which makes family gatherings more fun.

It's a trap! — Lauren at Hobo Mama shares the innovative snares her son and husband have set for her.

Creating with... well, what do we have? — If necessity is the mother of invention, Momma Jorje thinks perhaps boredom is (or at least can be) the mother of creativity. In a pinch, she got creative with a household item to entertain herself and her toddler.

Chalk It Up! — Amy at Anktangle recounts how an impulse buy has turned into a fun collaborative activity that she hopes will continue to foster creativity in the whole family.

The Family Garden — Excited that her son has been a big help in the garden this year, Ana at Pandamoly shares how her garden grows and offers up some secrets on how a toddler can be a great assistant in the garden.

Getting my craft on — In a guest post at Natural Parents Network, Jona at Life, Intertwined takes a trip down memory lane — and finds it in stitches.

Thursday, July 5, 2012

I have to admit, this week has seemed a bit crazy. So to link up with A Healthy Slice of Life﻿ I had to take pictures from different meals on different days. Not because I was SO busy I didn't have time, but because I was busy enough that my brain stopped working and I would remember AFTER the toddler had devoured the meal. I'm sure the lack of sleep is partially to blame. I hope this has happened to you too. No, just me? Great.

﻿

Breakfast: Homemade yogurt & honey with watermelon and raspberries

﻿

Yep, you read that right. Homemade yogurt. Do you know how long I have been putting that off? A long time. I've been thinking about it for two years since I read about it in my favorite baby food book. Then I learned I could do it in the crockpot. Then I got really low on yogurt and had an extra half gallon of organic whole milk in the fridge. Awesome.

I know, I know, graham crackers. As in the store-brand-lots-of-junk in them graham crackers. I had them in the pantry for a cheesecake crust. I am trying to go through our pantry and freezer. For the record, they were delicious and reminded me of my childhood.

﻿

Granola Energy Balls

This was a snack AND an activity since the recipe﻿﻿ is easy enough for a 2 year-old to help with. I was out of vanilla for these but they taste great without them. I will halve the coconut the next time, but only because the hubs doesn't care for it.
﻿

Dinner: Angel hair pasta with Avocado Cream Sauce

﻿
This, my friends was amazing. I think I've had pasta on the last two Munchkin Meals but this is worth writing about. I got the recipe from That's So Michelle. It was super quick, easy, and the toddler had 3 servings. That's right, 3.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Seriously, I love this CSA. I love the drive out to the farm. I love that my two year-old knows that his vegetables come from said farm - not the grocery store. I love that we get to have potlucks with these farmers.

Sadly, I'm not sure we will continue with them next year because while I love the drive it's on the long side. I thought that since the hubby commutes and it's *sort of* on the way home it would be easy for him to pick it up. However, I have made that drive a couple times on the way home from visiting family and it's a bit much.

So for now we will enjoy the drive picking out the horses, the barns, and the hay bales along the way ("Mommy look! Horses! Horses eat grass!") and will REALLY enjoy the eating part.

Cabbage
Lettuce - 2 Types
Kale
Basil
Swiss Chard
BEETS!!!!!

I wanted to add here that I tried something new this week. Beet greens. Now hear me out here. I found out through my mom that you can actually eat the greens that are on the tops of the beets. Makes sense, those healthy Mediterranean people eat all sorts of greens; whatever is growing in the back yard is game. So I thought I'd give it a whirl why the hubby was away on business.

I sautéed some washed beet greens with garlic scapes in olive oil until bright green and wilted over medium heat. They were delicious! They weren't too tough, or bitter, and had a great flavor different than most greens I eat. That night however I had TWO different nightmares concerning my children.

I don't know if it's coincidence or not, but I will be waiting to try those again for when the hubby is home! Yikes!

Monday, July 2, 2012

Oh, our little guy had a difficult start to the month. He was been sick, sick, sick which I of course felt terrible about. He got his brother's cold, which turned into his brother's cough which made it very hard to keep milk down.

Zonked!

So when I became quite sick I was put on antibiotics which we think was bothering him. Every night at 6:30 we were dealing with 1 to 2 ours of crying. Not fun. He's also REALLY gassy, poor guy!

On a happy note he got to go on his first, and second trip to the zoo. He thinks it's a great place to take naps!

He has pushed out to eating every 3 hours, especially overnight which has been nice. He still likes to be held all the time, but he is so young I consider that normal. Tiring, but normal.

Why is daddy sad? Because I am making him pick strawberries?

He started grinning at 4 weeks and while we thought it was a fluke he has continued to flash us little grins. Usually he is most happy early mornings. I am waiting for that super big smile I can so vividly recall of Asher's-when I realized that he looked like my brother and therefore me... I'm not so sure I'm going to get that. Maybe that's because he's own person and doesn't have to look like me? Jeez!

Those smiles do come pretty easy now at the end of the month. SO fun!

Asher making sure Micah is still in there.

I can't quite put my finger on who Micah looks like. He was Asher's twin when he was born and when he is asleep they look a lot alike but something is different in his eyes when they are open. They are still blue, which I am still in shock about, but something about the shape throws me for a loop. I am excited to watch him grow to see his little face take shape.

One day I won't remember how little he was.

I love that Micah is such a laid back little guy. Not only is looking more like his daddy, he seems to be taking after his personality as well.

We are looking forward to his 2 month appointment as the child is HUGE and growing out of most of his 6 months clothes already, yikes!

﻿﻿

Enjoying his first hotel stay.

﻿﻿

And an update ( I like to write these things down throughout the month) once I finished the antibiotics Micah stopped with the nightly screamfest. Except for today out of the blue. At a playdate. Yikes again!